ECF: Florida Panthers (A3) vs Carolina Hurricanes (M3) - PANTHERS WIN 4-1

[Mathgod]

vs

https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-pan...series-preview
https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/...es-vs-panthers
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...vs-hurricanes/

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/636...playoffs-2025/
https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/...-preview-2025/
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/20...ction-schedule

https://thehockeywriters.com/panther...-preview-2025/
https://www.canescountry.com/2025/5/...series-preview
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/articl...eastern-final/

Panthers: 47-31-4, 98 points ​(third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the eastern conference)
Hurricanes: 47-30-5, 99 points ​(second in the Metropolitan Division, fourth in the eastern conference)

Regular-season series: The Panthers won the series (2-1-0) (Hurricanes 1-3-0).
This will be the second time these two teams will meet in the playoffs.
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Series Schedule: https://www.nhl.com/schedule/playoff.../2025/series-m

Game 1: ......Tuesday, May 20, 6:00 PM MT
Game 2: .....Thursday, May 22, 6:00 PM MT
Game 3: .....Saturday, May 24, 6:00 PM MT
Game 4: .......Monday, May 26, 6:00 PM MT
Game 5: Wednesday, May 28, 6:00 PM MT (if necessary)
Game 6: ..........Friday, May 30, 6:00 PM MT (if necessary)
Game 7: ........Sunday, June 1, 6:00 PM MT (if necessary)

Full Coverage: https://www.nhl.com/playoffs/2025/series-m-coverage
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Canes in 7. They've been knocking on the door for quite a few years, and I think they now finally break through.

[ForeverFlameFan]

This is going to be a crazy forechecking matchup.

Panthers in 7

[jg13]

Cats in 7 going to be a war

Most importantly please no injuries

[Toonage]

I saw enough in Carolina to pick them over the Caps. I don’t see enough in them to pick them over the Panthers.

Cats in 6

[Tbull8]

Stars against either team would be awesome. That’s all I care about

[dissentowner]

I think this is Carolina's year to get to the final.

[midniteowl]

Now that Leafs are out, I don't care which of these two teams goes to the final.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Florida’s offence is just so inconsistent. Carolina always is good for 1-2 goals a game.

[dino7c]

People are sleeping on the Canes but I think it goes 7 and maybe OT

[dammage79]

Canes in 5. Hot take. It's Jankos turn for a cup!!

[DeluxeMoustache]

Go Cats

[Mightyfire89]

Panthers sweep. Maybe in 5.

[Itse]

Both teams are better than the last time they played. Panthers are I think the obvious favorites, but one thing I think gives Carolina a good chance is that Bobrovsky has been very average this year.

Both teams are scoring by committee, both are tight forechecking teams. Carolina has probably the only real sniper in the series in Svechnikov, but Panthers has the best depth offense in the league.

Could go either way. If the series goes long, there's a question whether or not Florida starts to run out of gas.

[OminousFlames]

I remember watching the Flames get bodied by both these teams on the same road trip. This should be a close series.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Itse

Both teams are scoring by committee, both are tight forechecking teams. Carolina has probably the only real sniper in the series in Svechnikov, but Panthers has the best depth offense in the league.

Odd choice, as he had 20 goals. 9 players on those teams scored at a better pace.

Reinhart had 39 goals, and has averaged 48 goals over the last 2 seasons.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Odd choice, as he had 20 goals. 9 players on those teams scored at a better pace.

Reinhart had 39 goals, and has averaged 48 goals over the last 2 seasons.

Yeah you're right. Funny confirmation bias I guess.

Carolina has been kind of my feel good casual team to follow, but I somewhat purposefully avoid stat watching in the regular season these days, and somehow everytime I watch the Canes, feels like Svechnikov scores, so that's where that comes from. And he's of course been on fire in these playoffs.

[Saqe]

Not sure if it's the sweep last time these two teams met in the conference finals but I felt more wary of Toronto because of the Berube effect. This Florida team is a lot better than the one that swept Carolina two years ago.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Not sure if it's the sweep last time these two teams met in the conference finals but I felt more wary of Toronto because of the Berube effect. This Florida team is a lot better than the one that swept Carolina two years ago.

This is my thought too...it's hockey so it's always unpredictable, and it won't be a sweep again...

But to me this Florida team is better than it was 2 years ago, and the Carolina team is actually worse.

My guess is Panthers in 6.

[Sylvanfan]

I think Panthers in 5, maybe 6. Both teams compete hard, but Florida is just a bit more talented at nearly every slot on the roster. I think they're mostly 1 goal games or 2 due to an empty net goal, but the Panthers just have more talent.

[bluejays]

Almost nobody is pointing fingers at Matthews. The guy may have been injured but again doesn’t show up in an important game. He’s got great hands but he’s completely lazy when it comes to getting dirty and getting physical. He’s supposed to be captain but again doesn’t show up when it matters most. Complete nonsense from him.